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note

backyard tourists

The navy plaid blazer in the window caught my eye and we went in for a while after the farmer's market. Too big for me, (besides I already have a similar Pendelton jacket) I joked that Paul should give it a try. It is a men's jacket afterall. "Should I wear it on the links?" "No. In a comfy club chair with your manhattan after playing eighteen."

What a treasure trove this place turned out to be. They had a collection of Franciscan atomic starburst ideal for Pete and Trudy Campbell's apartment. I had to stop myself from buying every old key in the basket for some sort of imagined arrangement. I browsed vintage Viemaster reels including a series on the resurrection of Christ and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, some well-thumbed Agatha Christie paperbacks, and the girls tried some "fabulous" costume jewelry. We left them all for others; all I took were photos.

Part of the charm of our town just outside the bigger city is funky places like this that spark stories, laughs and ideas. Sundays are perfect for that.

Last weekend, with intentions of going to the National Book Festival, we headed for the mall. It took a mere glance at the crowd among the tents to know that getting into the thick of it would not be fun for our kids, so we detoured through the National Gallery of Art and ducked into the Arcimboldo exhibit.

I hadn't heard of Guiseppe Arcimboldo before, but his nature-inspired fantasy work was amazing. The sense of scale at the NGA is always a pleasure in and of itself. They had built an over-sized model of the 'winter' version of his 'four seasons' series. The model of course being of more interest to the kids than the oil painting on which it's based.

As I often find, I enjoyed the artist's studies best: pencil sketches, and quick details of animal and plant species he used to learn about the natural world before creating his "mad" interpretations. Something about the authenticity and a seed of interest within those early conceptual works appeals to me.

His work seems fitting for the coming season of carving gourds into faces and telling of creepy, other-worldly stories. I hadn't thought of it that hot, humid afternoon, but I do believe Arcimboldo is a great segue into October. I'm sipping warm apple cider this rainy morning. Our mums are beginning to blossom and I've bought a pumpkin. Things are feeling pretty autumnally festive around here.

When It comes to visiting the National Zoo, the thing that works best for our family is to think small. Making it work for our small people benefits us all. This is our simple approach:

Arrive the moment they open

cover only a select territory

Stay for a short amount of time (1 & 1/2 - 2 hours max)

leave before noon.

We don't think of it as 'A day at the zoo', but rather -- a stop.

You can afford to do it this way because there's no admission charge and parking (typically $10-$20) is FREE with a FONZ membership, which offers discounts and benefits to other zoos nationwide. It pays for itself in a couple of zoo visits. It's the best deal going.

The zoological park sits on a long winding hillside between Connecticut Ave. and Rock Creek Park. Even though it's gradual, that hill can be killer on little legs under 10 years of age. We avoid a climb alltogether by choosing either the top OR the bottom and park our car in that area of the lot accordingly. We locals drive.

I know that the zoo web site recommends taking the metro, and that may work, but the metro is several blocks south of the zoo. Bear in mind that by the time you reach the zoo entrance, your children will have already walked several city blocks to get on and off the train. I'm not suggesting that my kids are lazy -- they have boundless energy for things of their own choosing, but they don't have much of an attention span, or grasp of delayed gratification.

Regarding which animals to see, there are simply no bad choices. I know some of our best discoveries have been the less prominent sections like the aviary, the wild 'Prezwalski's' horses, or lingering while the seals splash and play in their pool on a hot day. Hard to say whether that correlates to less bustling activity in that particular area at the time.

Panda viewing tip: You don't need to enter the Panda trail to see them. The Asia trail which runs parallel to the Panda walk sits about 10' higher, offering a slightly different but equally good vantage point. Also, from there you can take in the river otters and fishing cat without backtracking.

We don't eat at the zoo. Sticky, salty, pricy options at the various cafe's leave much to the imagination. Rather we pack a small cooler. Even so, we leave the hectic zoo atmosphere behind before enjoying our picnic. It's just usually time for a break from all of the overstimulating sensory commotion. The kids need some down time. That may be even more important if they are off-schedule on a vacation trip.

If you've arrived by metro you might opt for an outdoor table across Connecticut Ave. at Starbucks or the Zoo Bar, which serves a pretty good burger, a delicious carrot soup and a cold beer.

This post is about two things: 1) Navigating the National Zoo, and 2) Busses filled with school children. Since the second issue colors every aspect of the first, that's where I will begin.

From my earliest recollection, April and May are the designated school field trip months. This past week as I chaperoned the first grade zoo trip it seems every other school within an 7-mile radius had the same plan. The same was evident during our visit to the Natural History Museum last week.

If you can at all control it ... this may be the best bit of sage advice I have to offer regarding family travel to DC: avoid April and May. I could not be more sincere.

The summer months -- while they may be a bustle with visiting families -- do not include the overwhelming noise that comes with rows of six pre-schoolers holding hands across a horizontal string, while their teachers continually raise voices above each other in attempt to provide directives en-mass. Or pre-teens attempting to out-cool each other by exercising their one chance for freedom within the dictatorial system.

No, despite the beauty that comes with cherry blossoms and tulips and early greenery in comparison to northern climates, I would advise a June or August choice over spring months when planning a destination DC family adventure. Winter would even be better if you have the flexibility of time.

Think of it, the content of those museums does not vary that much. Most of the traditional touristy activities take place inside. They are not weather contingent. Moreover, who wants to be stuck inside on a gorgeous spring day. NO ONE! That is why they are all at the zoo.

Consider yourself warned. And please, don't write to me that you were here in June and still encountered too many tour busses for your liking. Busses are part of the landscape, but the spring months ARE in fact more intense and extreme in that regard. You'll just have to take my word on the subject.

As evidence to the point, my daughter was asked to re-count something of her visit to the zoo, so she dutifully wrote that she enjoyed seeing the elephants, along with a detail illustration of an elephant spraying water. There is no doubt in my mind that she had simply been overwhelmed. As the leader of her small group of three, I can assure you we went no where near the elephant house.

Having said all of that, don't let me scare you away from the National Zoo. It is a wonderful place and with little careful planning can be a memorable part of any visit to DC. I'll share some ideas in the next post: what a zoo -- part II.

It also had a thoughful poem, a "speshial" love note, and just the right creamy coffee brought in while I took my time surfacing.

The best part of our day was certainly in the way we managed the unexpected. Life is like that after all, and by staying focused on what was good for us collectively we got much more happiness and satisfaction out of the afternoon.

After winding around to a couple of destinations, our final stop was Fort Stevens. I had no idea it was even there -- an unassuming plot of grassy mounds in the middle of an otherwise non-descript residential neighborhood. Fort Stevens was a part of DC's fortification against Confederate troops during the civil war. It was on this site that Abraham Lincoln came under attack in July of 1864. Forty-one soldiers lost their lives there that day.

All of this was not lost on the kids. While they mostly enjoyed their freedom to roam about, they piled on questions when we got back in the car. They were curious, and a bit spooked, about what might be inside those bunkers.

I hope that Mothers Day festivities were fortifying to your family as well.

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It occurs to me that our adventures around Washington, DC might be helpful to families planning a visit. We tend to approach our weekends as tourists in our own back yard, and I have shared a number of those experiences here on the blog. I'm thinking I might collect those posts together as a highlight feature.

That headline is a little take-off on the beautiful blog, The Sartorialist. As if.

We had a city day yesterday: hunting down a good parking spot, a falafel lunch, our first visit to the National Aquarium in DC, and lots and lots of walking fueled by free hot chocolate courtesy of the McDonalds new-product sample van conveniently parked outside the Reagan building.

The Aquarium is small and older, with waist-high tanks positioned just tall enough that my seven-year-old had to stretch on tipped-toes and the little guy needed a permanent lift. Two small aligators, a snapping turtle, and a large octopus were highlights. In a quiet moment it was kind of wonderful watching the subtle stirring of a large Angel fish before an urgent cry for my attention elsewhere.

A personal favorite was the coral reef tank with its other-worldly textures and colors.

And this green sphere.

On the way back to the car we lingered near the north lawn of the White House listening to a street musician's rendition of Dock of the Bay on Saxaphone.

The girls decided they would like Paul to run for office next term so we can live there.

The museums of the Smithsonian Institution get pretty quiet this last week of August. With most children (DC public schools included) back to school, it's the ideal time for we locals to enjoy the sites without the crowds.

We had read about the new marine life exhibit in the newly restored 'Sant Ocean Hall', but somehow missed the fine print that it opens at the end of September. We were one month early.

Here's a sneak peek.

That's as much as we could see coming up the escalator. It looks amazing and I cannot wait to return in a couple of weeks to get the first hand view from underneath that whale. Meanwhile it is absolutely worth checking out the on-line features on their web site, here.

Instead this day, we explored familiar territory: the prehistoric mammals, such as (my favorite) the giant sloth, the dinosaurs, like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, ...

... and the ever fascinating human child exhibit.

There's also a terrific hands-on 'discovery room'where kids can look at samples under a microscope, examine real skeletal systems, and explore drawer after drawer of various insects, shells, minerals, and other life forms with a magnifying glass.

This is a pretty great area for homeschooling which happens to be among our plans this year.

Yep, we're keeping one at home this year. There are many reasons, and I'm not without a few unsettled nerves, but all in all I am confident in her endless curiosity and my ability to put information in front of her.

We're excited to move ahead with a new approach to the back to school season.

The season is winding down just like it began. This time a different berry ripening in the sun.

Adventuring through the produce of southern Maryland -- just outside the DC beltway -- has brought a new spirit to our summer this year. I don't expect any of us will soon forget these trips to the nearby orchard, Certainly our photo albums will help. A new tradition born perhaps.

This time it was Paul initiating the trip, motivated by the memory of his Mom's homemade jam and the availability of raspberries and blackberries. The day was perfect for picking, warm but never hot; the low humming of bees arose from every thicket branch.

Never mind that the kids lost interest early on -- scared off by the prickly bramble and the bees -- Paul and I picked as they picnic-ed in the shade and ran among the hedge rows without a care.

And so, with purple knees and fingernails, a bee sting, and having tasted the warm burst of sweetness akin to tiny bunches of concord grapes, we arrived home with three full buckets.

A trip to the local hardware store for jars and The Blue Book and Paul was ready. Ready to approach this job with the same fierce intensity that he applies to any other worthwhile undertaking.

Make no mistake this was his project; with me the happy documentarian.

I was met with the strong scent of raspberries when I woke this morning. The kitchen had become 'operation jam cannery' for nearly five hours today. Dare not interrupt to ask whether the coffee is regular or decaf. Timing was crucial.

Paul's mom was thrilled to learn of the ongoing value of the time spent in her own sweltering kitchen in the '70s, and the lasting impression made by her demonstration of homemade love.

No more Bon Mamam at $5 a pop!

I'd call the entire two day process a success. Paul is satisfied that the pectin did it's job, having already made a gift to the neighbors, and we'll be spreading thick crusty loaves and scones throughout the cold months ahead.

We considered calling it traffic jam, but prefer the more specific alternative.

Just returned last night from a spontaneous long weekend in Philadelphia. I lived in the area before getting married, and have a soft spot for that city; the old buildings, the narrow streets, the restaurants, the Irish taverns. It's funny how different our choices as parents when traveling. For example, looking for a nice dinner spot?

Hmmm, this looks interesting, but we see couples enjoying small plates and martini's and, being respectful of their lovely date, we opt to take our rowdy crowd across the street instead:

It's okay, we compromised for brunch the next day, finding just the right tavern -- not too busy and we could get a bloody Mary and a Guiness. I wondered what conversation might ensue with my young readers about the quote on the coasters, but they didn't mention it.

Traveling with kids ... lots to navigate, but so very well worth it. Like most, I think they enjoyed the hotel pool the best. More of my pics of our weekend adventure are here.

We had a really good time, but there's much to do today getting back to life. It's late in the day and I really must get into work mode now.

If you look down from an airplane over the city of Washington it's a green view most of the year. The city's many parks and residential neighborhoods are abundant, vivid and lush reaching wide across the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and spreading well into the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. From the air you can't make out the specific diamond-shaped footprint of the city limits, but the National Mall is clearly identifiable: a line from the Capital Building, hyphenated by the Washington Monument, punctuated with the Lincoln Memorial to the west.

Back on the ground, where we conduct our day-to-day business, amidst heavily populated streets and closely situated houses it is hard to keep perspective on the greenery surrounding us. From down here in order to see "nature" you have to remember to look for it; to look up. There are glimpses of the solitude of outdoors from time to time ... the turn of a corner on the park path, or from your bicycle seat inside the Arboretum, but for the most part every view, every moment is slightly obscured by some kind of civil sighting or nearby sound.

We're not from this area originally and although we've lived here for nearly eleven years, it still somehow feels temporary, not necessarily like home. I'm still happily surprised with little encounters ... a familiar face in the deli ... another school parent in Starbucks. Those things are important to me somehow.

From my children's perspective though, this is the only home they have ever had. This struck me (hard, like a slap) today in the car on the way home from the school. The area where my children are from, where they will always be FROM, is really urban. The activities of their weekends are astonishingly different from those that Paul and I experienced growing up. We go to museums regularly, sometimes just popping in for an hour or two. The zoo, again, for a quick trip. Sites of international interest are their stomping grounds, places to simply share a picnic lunch or take in an animated short film. A quick inexpensive meal out is commonplace for them. They do not have extended time outdoors on a regular basis without outside stimulation. A place to simply be.

This is the backdrop against which our story is unfolds. This is the setting, time and place, that we choose for our family. This is it?

Our kids do have an amazing ability to use whatever little treasures they find, whether it be acorns or markers and paper, to create their own play. I'm not concerned about their ability to be imaginative or creative. It's not that. I simply find myself questioning our basic, physical place. It is a place full of excitement and opportunity on the one hand and on the other hand ... I'm questioning what my children may be lacking, living here in a city ... even with its many trees.